San Diego  Gary Marcus stood at the intersection of University Avenue and Normal Street on Saturday morning, one of thousands of people lining the streets in anticipation of the San Diego LGBT Pride Parade.

“I’m old enough to have been at the onset of all this,” said the 70-year-old, who marched in the second New York pride parade in 1971, held just two years after police raided Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village — an event considered by many as the beginning of the gay-rights movement.

“It was different then,” said the North Park resident, who came out at 24. “We had to hide. We had bricks thrown at us.”

Gary Marcus of North Park reminisced about past gay-pride parades on Saturday. “It fills my heart to see how far we’ve come,” he said. “We don’t have to hide anymore. We can be proud. We can celebrate.”
— Charlie Neuman

Gary Marcus of North Park reminisced about past gay-pride parades on Saturday. “It fills my heart to see how far we’ve come,” he said. “We don’t have to hide anymore. We can be proud. We can celebrate.”
— Charlie Neuman

On Saturday, the 40th anniversary of the San Diego LGBT Pride, Marcus looked out at the crowded streets of Hillcrest and couldn’t help but get emotional at all the changes he’s witnessed.

“It fills my heart to see how far we’ve come,” he said. “We don’t have to hide anymore. We can be proud. We can celebrate.”

Kicking off the three-day Pride celebration Friday night, transgender activist and actress Laverne Cox, from the Netflix comedy-drama series “Orange Is the New Black,” spoke at a Stonewall Rally in Hillcrest. The Pride Festival, which features musical acts and a wedding expo, continues today in Balboa Park.

The parade remained the highlight, with tens of thousands of people of all colors and creeds, young and old, standing side by side waving rainbow flags along a 1½-mile route to celebrate progress. It was a festive day, marked by odd bedfellows. Politicians — Democrats and Republicans — marched, followed several contingents later by bare-chested male dancers and marchers in rainbow-hued feathers. California Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins led them as the grand marshal. Mayor Kevin Faulconer marched, and so did GOP gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari.

Several protesters stood at the intersection of University and Ninth avenues, as well as outside the festival in Balboa Park, but no incidents were reported, said San Diego police Lt. Marshall White.

For 75-year-old Betty Owen, Saturday’s parade was “a joyful event.”

Betty Owen, 75, sat among 80 senior citizens — all members of The Center's "50 and Better Together" group — on Saturday. The parade, she said, was a "a joyful event."
— Charlie Neuman

Betty Owen, 75, sat among 80 senior citizens — all members of The Center's "50 and Better Together" group — on Saturday. The parade, she said, was a "a joyful event."
— Charlie Neuman

“It’s so exciting to be in a community that is so welcoming,” said Owen, who was seated among 80 senior citizens — all members of The Center’s “50 and Better Together” group — at the start of the parade route. In the seven years she’s attended the parade, she said, there’s always one moment that tugs at her heart.

“When the young people marching down the parade,” said the Normal Heights resident, “when they stop and acknowledge us.

“That,” Owen said, tearing up, “that moment is precious.”

‘It’s a special time’

Sean McHugh, 30, stood at the foot of the gigantic rainbow flag on Normal Street, holding hands with his husband of six months, Anthony DeMille. They marched in the parade together, McHugh wearing his crisp Navy whites.

“After 10½ years of serving this country,” he said, “I’m proud to be able to march in my uniform. I don’t have to hide anymore. To be able to do this today with him, to be proud of who I am, to be able to get married, it’s a special time.”

Indeed, support for same-sex marriage has been gaining momentum since June 2013 when the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the federal government to recognize state-sanctioned gay marriages. That far-reaching ruling paved the way for same-sex marriage bans to be overturned around the U.S. Oregon legalized same-sex marriage on May 19, with Pennsylvania following suit the next day. To date, gays and lesbians can legally marry in 19 states, including California, and in the District of Columbia.

The parade's crowd fills University Avenue in this view looking east from 5th. Avenue.
— Charlie Neuman / UT San Diego

The parade's crowd fills University Avenue in this view looking east from 5th. Avenue.
— Charlie Neuman / UT San Diego

“People — our culture — are starting to be more open to the idea that we are equals,” said Callejas, who attended the parade with her partner of 19 years, Juana Rivera. “That’s a good thing, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

It’s work that Master Chief Petty Officer Dwayne D. Beebe-Franqui is ready to tackle. The Navy officer and his husband, Jonathan, were honored Saturday as the San Diego Pride’s “Inspirational Couple.” The duo, who rode in the parade, made headlines two years ago when Dwayne got down on one knee and proposed to Jonathan along the parade route.

“This is such an honor for Jonathan and I to come this year after proposing to him two years ago,” Dwayne said after the parade, which featured more than 250 military members marching. “The support we’ve gotten has been overwhelming. So many people, especially service members, contacted me to thank me for being a role model. It’s not a title I take lightly.

“If being out and proud as a member of the military gives a young person the courage to be themselves, shows them that they can also succeed, I’m happy to be that role model.”

John Banvard, 96, left, and spouse Gerard Nadeau, 68, at right, both military war veterans, make their way to and open car to ride in the parade with other military members.
— Charlie Neuman / UT San Diego

John Banvard, 96, left, and spouse Gerard Nadeau, 68, at right, both military war veterans, make their way to and open car to ride in the parade with other military members.
— Charlie Neuman / UT San Diego

‘It’s about freedom’

Minutes before the parade’s 11 a.m. start, 68-year-old Gerard Nadaeu walked down Normal Street holding hands with his husband, 96-year-old John Banvard. The couple — veterans of the Vietnam War and World War II — made history last September when they exchanged vows at the state Veterans Home in Chula Vista. Saturday, as guests of honor of the military contingent, they rode in a car ahead of the marchers.

“We got married after 20 years of being together. We felt like it was time,” Nadaeu said, surrounded by military personnel, many in uniform. “Getting married in our lifetime was something we never considered in the past. That, and this today, it’s exciting. It’s about freedom.”

Not too far away, the significance of the day’s events wasn’t lost on 24-year-old Marshall Ragsdale, who attended his first parade 10 years ago.

“Things are changing,” said the Santee resident, a member of the Metropolitan Community Church’s contingent. “There’s less to fear. There’s less and less hate.”

Yes, but the fight isn’t over, said Ron Thrun, 82, of Webster.

“Yes, there are more companies in the parade. More military members. More civic leaders. More politicians from both sides. Yes, there have been changes, but when the time comes when being gay is no longer an issue, that’s the day we can revel in. But still today is a celebration.”